Rogers Pass, Tunnels making the grade
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- Part 6 in this series, This video focuses on the CP rail Rogers Pass area in Britsh Columbia Canada including the Shaughnessy, Macdonald and Connaught tunnels.
This video has a trainload of information on it so pay attention and be prepared to learn alot about the construction and operation of the tunnels.
Some extra information:
The Connaught tunnel had the railbed lowered by about 4ft in around the mid 1980s to accommodate the double stacks trains after the double track was removed.
Trains can be moved in either direction through both routes if needed as RTC can adjust the fans to accommodate eastbound trains going through the Macdonald tunnel.
In case of emergency there are safe rooms about every 5000ft within the Macdonald tunnel for crew or anyone else to get out of the tunnel into fresh air if a train gets stopped within the tunnel. Crew is also given oxygen masks that are in the cabs of the trains that go through the tunnels in case of issues.
The Connaught Tunnel had originally two 16V71T engines running the fans. They were replaced by new engines after a fire in the Right fan house that destroyed everything. The big squirrel cage fans turn at 160 rpm. . You can see a grade off the main line on the RHS where they used to push tank cars up under the fan house to supply fuel they finally put a fuel tank in there and closed up the basement. Behind the fan house you can still see the footings of the houses that housed the crew who ran the fans. They were finally replaced by the Detroit Diesels using a 10:1 Falk gear to keep the rpm at 160rpm. There is still one diesel running and the other has been converted to electric motor.
Contrary to popular belief the fans were never powered by steam engines. This is a popular myth that even CPR employees get wrong. The original engines were MacIntosh & Seymour, 4 cylinder, 500 hp diesels of a very early type. The engines were Type 4-A-38. M&S diesels were there until a fire in 1972. They were 4 single cylinders on a common crank case. The tunnel did have boilers, but they were used to provide steam to heat the heavy bunker C oil that was burned in the M&S engines. The steam was also used to heat the homes of the tunnel operators. Thanks to Doug Mayer of the Revelstoke Railway Museum for this new information.
Please if you like these series I would love to do more but the cost of gas to travel is getting to be quite high so any support you can give would be greatly appreciated!
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Once again THANK YOU for your continued support
A New updated video here with much more info and covers a much larger area ua-cam.com/video/HsOkm8l33Ww/v-deo.htmlsi=3--jQ4dlTQAeFEgf
This whole area is amazing. One really cool thing is that the town of Revelstoke has live music outdoors in Grizzly Plaza all summer from 6-9 pm. The trains pass just across the street. Live music and trains. And so much more to do in the area.
I agree, Revelstoke is a great place. sadly finding an affordable place to live there is next to none
Fantastic video Tony. I was a field mechanic for Detroit Diesel out of Kamloops in the 70's. Spent a lot of time at the Connaught Tunnel working on the two 16V71T engines. spent two weeks one winter installing a new engine after a fire in the R fan house destroyed everything. That was fun. spent two weeks there in summer of '78 installing a new engine in the L fan house with a new fluid coupling. The big squirrel cage fans turn at 160 rpm and were originally driven by steam engines. These were replaced by Vivian Marine diesels that turned 160 rpm as well. They were finally replaced by the Detroit Diesels using a 10:1 Falk gear to keep the rpm at 160rpm. You can see a grade off the main line on the RHS where they used to push tank cars up under the fan house to supply fuel to the steam engines and Vivians. they finally put a fuel tank in there and closed up the basement. Behind the fan house you can still see the footings of the houses that housed the crew who ran the steam engines and Vivians. One of our engineers had a cassette recording of the old Vivians before they were pulled out. that was before my time when original Detroit Diesels were installed. I think there is still one diesel running and the other has been converted to electric motor. I can remember when they old Glacier station was actually refurbished back in the late 70's as the signalmen used it for paperwork and they had a office in there. Doug Caswell was up there then. I has since deteriorated as another 40 years has been added. Our company also supplied the EMD gen set that runs the Mt. McDonald fan house was up to it once after it was commissioned. I wasn't a mechanic anymore at that time. Once again, this brought back some great memories. I could add a lot more but I will quit now.
Oh wow, thanks for all the great Info Doug. may I add some of this to the description I have under the video?
@@TonyVRailfanning sure, no problem.
You showed the stone bridge on Loop Creek. There are also granite columns up in there they ran the tresses on. They were hand fit granite by Scottish stone masons. One of the CPR signalmen took us up there to show us the summer we put the Left fan house engine in.
Great video Tony. I was a telegraph operator at Glacier. Trivia. The Connaught tunnel Glacier entrance had showers at the portal. That is where we used to get some great showers especially in the winter. Yest the was ventilated. I was there last year. Used to be able to drive down to the station, not any more. Too bad the station was not preserved.
@@fredabonyi5251 thanks, the good news is the station will be rebuilt in Banff so at least it’s being re-created there. They packed it all up in pieces and moved it there.
Another great video, Tony - thanks so much. Fascinating tech info and history re tunnels, ventilation, etc - thanks for doing the research! Heart-warming to see Saskatchewan (my home) grain and potash going to market on the west coast!
Glad you enjoyed it
The reputation of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first PM, has taken a lot of heat recently for issues not pertinent to this forum, but I think many Canadians don’t realize or appreciate that he was the driving force in the building of the CPR, which has been a huge influence in making Canada the great country that it is today. I hope we can soon rehabilitate his reputation and give him, again, the credit he deserves.
He certainly was a big part in the railway’s history
Tony V already left my like number 4, every day his videos surprise me, it's a super professional job, really magnificent. Big hug, here from Brazil. 🇧🇷👍🇨🇦
Thank you
@@TonyVRailfanning Thank you for providing moments of joy to us your audience, great weekend for you for you and your family.
Another awesome video Tony.love the scenery.love the shots of the trains coming out of and into the tunnels.there doesn’t seem to be very much clearance with the stack trains.love the shots of the potash train with the mountains in the background.absolutly love the history you added to the video.loved the view at 26:10 with the train,mountain and the different greens of the trees.🌲
Thanks John. This one was a huge job to edit
Amazing shots Tony! Wow, it was sure cool hearing all of those facts, some of which I would never even have imagined to be true!
Alberta Bound Railfanning yes, it's amazing how deep the tunnel is even below the highway
Some of the most beautiful scenery in Canada in my opinion! I could park an RV next to the rail and be happy. I could die extremely happy. As far back as I can remember my family would drive from Calgary to spend the day or maybe a few days in the national park. My passion was listening to the train horns as they passed threw the pass.
I agree, the sound of a train though the mountains is magical. The entire area from Banff AB to Sicamous BC is stunning
@@TonyVRailfanning I miss driving threw the Rockies. And what I miss the most is the via rail trim that used to be on Canada’s first and original railroad line.
Thank you for the 31min History lesson on the three tunnels.
Superb shots and stunning scenary made for another stunning video.
I can see why it took you so long to edit as well but was well worth the time and effort in my view.
Thanks Alex, working on the Revelstoke one now
always look forward to your videos :)
Thanks Elise, glad you enjoy them although this one was a lot more work than I had wanted it to be LOL
you make some great video keep up the greatwork and stay safe
Thank you George, I’ve got 5 more in this series to do
A fantastic vid again, Tony, great shots from points one doesn't see very often here on YT, and also the given info is very valuable! :-)
Thanks Hunsbuckel, it was a learning experience for myself also.
Serious taggers up north in Canada. CP trains running through Minnesota are usually filthy, except for the SD70acu's. Eventually they will get there as well. Nice video. Just watched the Company doc on the building of the Roger's Pass line in the 80s. Quite the feat.
Thank you Bob, glad you enjoyed it. Keep in mind that most of the grain hoppers are over 40 years old so have been around a very long time. Both CP and CN are replacing these with new higher capacity ones as we speak
@@TonyVRailfanning thx. What size on the new ones? They must be at the 286000 limit loaded?
@@Bob.W. old grain hoppers were 85ton each the new ones are 130ton each
Brilliant again Tony. Thanks very much.😀
Thanks Kelly
An interesting video to learn thank you! Here in Italy, we have three rail tunnels on the railway line from Bologna to Pistoia, known as the Ferrovia Porrettana. Until the line was electrified in 1927, those three tunnels also had ventilation fans just like the Connaught Tunnel and the Mount MacDonald Tunnel. However, it seems that the three Italian tunnels are best compared with the Connaught Tunnel as to my knowledge, there were no doors, just fans. They were steam powered too apparently
Thank you for that great information. Enjoy the weekend
@@TonyVRailfanning thanks, you too :)
Great video, I actually learned a few things to, like the low angle...I love the CP main from Van to Calgary, some of the best rail in the north west!
Thanks! yes absolutely amazing rail line with spectacular vistas
Free Ride, some of the best in the WORLD!
Superb video Tony, I had no idea the Shaughnessy tunnel was ventilated
Colby D. Grant they did a lousy job of the ventilation on that tunnel aparently as the fans have had issues since day one. I guess given it was not designed to have fans
Absolutely excellent!! Thank you for the good work!
MF SP your welcome, glad you enjoyed it
Beautiful! Awesome!
Thank you
Great video Tony. Glad to see you followed the no droning regulations in Glacier National Park. Fine example.
TRAIN CLIPS BC ya, it’s a shame the drone can’t fly there particularly at the spiral tunnels but I won’t break the rules
Tony V , and the fines are quite stiff and have been imposed. Going to be in Revy Wednesday overnight and Thursday morning and going to try and catch the tonnage reduction of the EB grain trains you told me about last week. Also, what drone you flying? Mine is a Phanton 4 Pro.
The other night I was, out the tracks behind our place out for walk with my dog and I happened to look up and saw three lights coming at me. the train was still far enought away, so there was no problem, had lots of time get out of they way. I had not heard it coming. I walked back the way I came and got of the tracks. He gave me a little toot on the horn. so, yes, they can sneak up on you.
That’s why it’s best to just never walk down the right of way
@@TonyVRailfanning I was walking towards the train and he was about half a mile away, so I had lots of time to get out of his wat
18:12 lol the delay in the sound of the horn between the radio and irl
@@TrainmanSky yeah the zoom on that particular camera was very very good and the train was still quite far away. Just shows how long it takes for sound to travel even a half a mile.
Hi friend, I'm Afael from Argentina. Fantastic edition. Here we see it at school with the kids. could you upload this video without screen share please thanks sdo.
Hello Rafael, I am planning to update this video at some point in the next couple months at that time time I will upload it here. Glad your putting this video to good use in a classroom to teach.
"Awesome compilation, along with some railroad history👌👌."
Thank you TC
Great videos Tony! I was there last summer at Shaunnsey tunnel for the first time. Its a great spot
It sure is!, just dont get caught there they frown upon it
@@TonyVRailfanning yes i'm sure they do! lol
A few years ago my friend and I toured the ventilator building atop mount McDonald. The fans that provide the cooling and piston action in the tunnel never shut down. They’re blades get feathered after tunnel is cleared of smoke and dangerous C02. They also have a generator that can start up at a moment’s notice. The only fans that actually shut down are smaller fans designated for radiators that provide cooling for the huge fan’s while they are under load.
Thats neat you got to see inside of the fan building. A friend of mine was involved heavily in the project during construction so thats how I got the info I posted.
Hi I also forgot to mention that the fans in the ventilation building atop the mountain are so powerful that if a man were too fall down the air shaft and the operator got to the controls fast enough that they have the power to stop your fall. Also the first coal train threw the Mac Donald tunnel was very long and heavy the operators turned the fans up too much and sucked the doors in. It’s a very interesting part of CP’s rail line threw the mountains.
That’s really interesting, thanks for all the info
Great videos as always
Thanks
The TBM that drilled over half of the tunnels on this line is still inside the mountain! Just a little FYI.
Oh interesting, did they steer it off course and then cement it in place?
@@TonyVRailfanning it was at the end of the ventilation shaft the is connected to the ventilator building atop the mountain. It was cheaper to cement it in than to dismantle it and take it out piece by piece. This was told to me by the operator of the tunnels the time.
My parents owed property next tracks so I respect trains
That’s good to hear, they are amazing feats of engineering
Contrary to popular belief the Connaught tunnel fans were never powered by steam engines. This is a popular myth that even CPR employees get wrong. The original engines were MacIntosh & Seymour, 4 cylinder, 500 hp diesels of a very early type. The engines were Type 4-A-38. M&S diesels were there until a fire in 1972. They were 4 single cylinders on a common crank case. The tunnel did have boilers, but they were used to provide steam to heat the heavy bunker C oil that was burned in the M&S engines. The steam was also used to heat the homes of the tunnel operators.
By no means am I a UA-cam expert, but you have a well produced and instructive video with less than 1500 views. This deserves a wider audience of train lovers. Change the title to "Trains, best of 2020" with subtitles (tunnels in Canada) or something that broad. That should get this video into the minds of us who love trains. Great work.
Thank you, I appreciate the advice. I will add a tag with that name it should have the same effect
Hi tony. As you know I am the first one here to this video, crazy. I know
I already subscribe to your channel
Great video series. I'm just curious if you needed to obtain permission to be around the east portal of either tunnel? I've heard that CP is quite strict about people being in that area, for both Connaught and MacDonald tunnels. Were you able to just drive in no problem?
Thank you, I was brought up there by a CP employee so was allowed that way but your correct its normally trespassing if you dont get permission and you can not drive, you have to walk in (its not far) and bears are known to be there so use caution.
Fantastic job Tony! Lots of great and fascinating information. I am in the belief that engineers who built these and other rail lines through the mountains were thinking ahead of their time, and don't get the recognition they deserve for their achievements.
Did CP have many issues with maintaining connections between the remote units when they first started using them? I imagine it can be difficult to maintain signal constantly through a 9 mile tunnel.
Thanks, Interesting you brought that up Ben, yes they often had remotes quit mid tunnel due to loss of signal. They had a person at the other end literally jump on the remotes as they left the tunnels to reconnect them. They now have repeaters in the tunnels to prevent that.
Sorry. Meant to say the tunnel was ventillated.
Did you receive special permission to film at these places? Just wondering if I can go there myself next time I go railfanning there.
@@canuckster24 no however if you are careful and dont do anything stupid they rarely say anything. I have never had an issue with any of the spots I go into and I know CPKC head office knows me as they have reached out to me more than once
I have noticed there are far fewer locomotives on these huge trains than there used to be; is that because the locomotives are more powerful or is it because the new tunnels have made these grades easier to manage, or both?
Locomotives have become much more powerful for example the SD40s are 3000hp and the newest ET44ac are 4400hp plus better traction. Railways in Canada also run really light for power as fuel costs are the railways highest cost due to taxes on the fuel. They run the locomotives really hard
The voiceover is also perfect, are you the one who speaks in the video?
Hi Darci, yes it’s me. I don’t particularly like doing voiceovers but it needed to be done on this one
@@TonyVRailfanning Thanks very much Tony V.
Have there been occasions where Canadian Pacific has had to send eastbound trains through the Mount Macdonald Tunnel?
Yes, it can happen. It’s more common for westbound trains that are light such as intermodal to go through the Connaught tunnel to bypass slower trains going through the Mac tunnel
All traces of Glacier are disappearing. My mother tried to show me where she was born, but that dotted line has mostly been erased.
Chris York some of it is a hiking trail now. The old stone bridge was repaired a few years ago and a designated historical landmark
How can you access the Mount Macdonald Tunnel East Portal? Also does the Connaught Tunnel have a ventilation system like the Mount Macdonald and does the Connaught have a door that opens & closes before & after the Ventalation process? If so which Portal has the tunnel door opening and closing for the Connaught the West Portal or East?
So the east porthole is accessible by foot as you can not drive into the area the access road comes up quick on the left (if your heading west) as you go past Shawnassy mountain. No doors on the Connaught tunnel but there is a ventilation system in it however its very basic with fans at the west end.
@@TonyVRailfanning Interesting there aren't many videos on the Mount Macdonald Tunnel east portal hence why I asked and wow its a lot more risky than I thought trying to access the east portal. How were you able to walk to the portal? Also are there any other Canadian Pacific tunnels like the Mount Macdonald with tunnel doors etc etc?
@@kirkzevola5004 there is a road but it’s trespassing to drive on it, walking you at least can stay far back from the rails if a train comes. That I know of this is the only CP tunnel and for that matter any tunnel in Canada that has doors.
@@TonyVRailfanning Ah got it thanks for clarifying makes a lot of sense.
@@TonyVRailfanning Do you plan on returning to the tunnels?
Tony for a long time I want to ask a question but I'm ashamed to ask, are you that Tony V comedian who has videos on the internet ??
No that is not me Darci
@@TonyVRailfanning Thanks very much Tony V.
Did you record this in June?
No this was 2 years ago
You'd get more likes if you stop with the stupid music. The trains already provide great music!
Music is part of the story and ads artistic flair. I know lots of people who like the music. I almost never put music over the noise of the train when it’s passing by unless I don’t have any audio from the video